Tsvangirai faction claims suspension lifted

Tsvangirai faction claims suspension lifted

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By Staff Reporter

A FACTION of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) loyal to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai said it had reversed his suspension by the party's disciplinary committee, and made several constitutional amendments to buttress its position in the internal power game.

Tsvangirai's faction convened a meeting of the party's national council, following which it announced that it had "disassociated" itself from another faction which has Gibson Sibanda, Tsvangirai's deputy, in its ranks.

Tsvangirai's supporters also passed a resolution vesting control over the party's finances in Tsvangirai's allies: the party chair Isaac Matongo and the leaders of the women and youth wings of the party.

Paul Themba Nyathi, the party's spokesman, was also said to have been relieved of his duties and Kuwadzana MP, Nelson Chamisa, thrust in his position.

However, speaking to New Zimbabwe.com on Thursday night, Nyathi insisted he was still the party spokesman.

"They can dream on, but the decisions of their kangaroo national council made up of people picked up from the streets has no effect. The so called national council which came up with these resolutions was wrongly constituted and all its decisions are null and void," he said.

Tsvangirai, through his spokesman, however insisted that 57 out of the 66 members of the national council attended the meeting -- a claim dismissed by Nyathi.

On the setting aside of Tsvangirai's suspension, Nyathi said the national council could not pre-empt the disciplinary committee's investigation into Tsvangirai on allegations of misrepresenting the party's policy position and abuse of the constitution.

The split within the MDC was dramatised by serious divisions over the party's position on Senate elections held last weekend. Tsvangirai's faction called for a boycott while Nyathi and several other party officials supported participation.

A vote of the national council was subsequently taken during which a majority voted for participation. Tsvangirai rejected the outcome and went around the country campaigning for a boycott.

In a move perceived as an attempt to sideline the pro-senate faction, the national council also adopted a vote-of-no-confidence in its leading members: deputy president Gibson Sibanda, secretary-general Welshman Ncube, deputy secretary Gift Chimanikire, treasurer general Fletcher Ncube, spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi and others as they had not "availed themselves for any party meetings" - Staff Reporter/Irin
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